When the weather outside is frightful, it's the perfect time to huddle up indoors with some festive holiday snacks, cheery holiday tunes on the speakers and a crackling fire. Add some creative expression to that perfectly cozy day at home with a slate of Christmas crafts for kids — easy projects that they can whip up all on their own (or with a little help from a grownup).
Our list includes dozens of ideas that are sure to keep the kids busy — and jolly! — as they wait for Santa's sleigh. Many require supplies you may already have on hand. Others even call for objects you can forage with your family outside as part of a fun pre-crafting adventure.
Think simple paper crafts, handprint and footprint crafts and ordinary object upcycling for toddlers and preschoolers. We've also got plenty of more sophisticated craft options for older kids with greater motor control and patience — like stockings, door wreaths, wall and mantle trimmings… and Christmas tree ornaments galore. Bonus: Many of these kids' Christmas crafts also double as handmade gifts and timeless keepsakes for teachers, family, friends, neighbors and other loved ones. (After all, there's no gift you can buy that compares to a unique masterpiece made with love!)
Simple Everyday Mom
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Design Improvised
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Lovely Indeed
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Oh Yay Studio
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Felt Dog Ornament (or Stocking Tag)
The Craft Train
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Christmas Tree Doodle Art
Kids can really express their creativity — and channel their excited energy — into this Christmas tree doodle craft. They offer a cool 3D effect, which will make them really standout.
Get the tutorial at The Craft Train »
The Best Ideas for Kids
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A Beautiful Mess
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Danielle Daly
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DIY Snow Globe
Similar to vignettes, except this version is definitely more appropriate for younger kids. Once you have the jar you want to use, make sure to clean it thoroughly. Then, arrange your scene using bottle brushes and figurines and glue them to the top of the jar. Now it's time to create some sparkle: add 1-2 teaspoons of glitter to the jar. Fill it with distilled water, nearly all the way to the top. Then add a few drops of glycerin and stir. Add some glue to the top of the jar and then place it on the base, and once dried, flip it to see some magic.
SHOP FIGURINES
Mike Garten
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Twig Ornaments
This craft comes with an adventure: First, take a foraging walk outside to gather twigs. Then, use glue to create holiday shapes and finish with festive embroidery thread wrapping.
Mike Garten
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Snowball Wreath
Help kids apply styrofoam balls to a wreath form with hot glue. When dry, finish with a pretty bow and a wire for hanging.
SHOP STYROFOAM BALLS
Danielle Daly
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Leaf Paper Garland
This simple project is adaptable for kids of all ages. Parents can handle the scissors for littler kids. You'll just need construction paper in complementary greens, as well as glue.
SHOP CONSTRUCTION PAPER
The Best Ideas for Kids
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Mike Garten
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Filled Ornaments
When kids fill clear ornament balls with small objects or art supplies, there's no end to the creative possibilities. (Older kids may work carefully with glass ornaments, while smaller kids are better off with plastic.)
SHOP ORNAMENTS
Brian Woodcock
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Mitten Tree
Turn those family mittens into a tree decoration, festooned with colorful pom poms as ornaments. This easy craft is especially ideal for upcycling mismatched pairs.
Brian Woodcock
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Candy Cane Place Card Holders
Sure, these easy glued-together candy cane place cardholders look elegant with calligraphy. But they're much cuter when kids take over the task of writing guests' names.
SHOP PLACE CARDS
Mike Garten
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Embellished Stocking
If time is on your side, make a bunch of personalized stockings for your entire family before Christmas morning. To make, fold the hem of the stocking to attach ribbon or pom pom-trim, then decorate with festive stickers and felt cut-outs. Once it's fully dry, fill it with an assortment of stocking stuffers.
BRIAN WOODCOCK
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Santa Advent Calendar
Help Santa nail his Christmas look — one cotton ball at a time. First, cut out Santa's head and red hat on pieces of white and red paper. Draw on his eyes, pink cheeks and nose, then jot down 1-25 on his white beard. Starting December 1, have your kids tape up a cotton ball until Santa's beard is complete.
Mike Garten
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Vintage Paper Ornaments
For added dimension, mix a bunch of paper ornaments with multicolored baubles. To make, trace our templates onto card stock and cut them out. Decorate to your liking with glitzy pipe cleaners and snowflake cut-outs. Finally, punch a hole, add a ribbon and hang 'em on your Christmas tree.
GET TEMPLATE
Bowdabra
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Pinecone Gnome
The fun thing about this craft is that you get to start it by going on a nature walk. Then, with just a few tweaks, your natural raw materials become a cheerful holiday gnome.
Get the tutorial at Bowdabra »
Alice and Lois
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DIY Christmas Village
This Christmas village is so picturesque, it looks store-bought — but it's really all DIY, made from cardboard, paint and wooden discs. That means you get to choose everything, down to the colors. If you click through to the tutorial, you can even print out the villagers for your own set.
Get the tutorial at Alice and Lois »
Hands on As We Grow
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Tape-Resist Candy Cane Painting
Studio DIY
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Craft Gingerbread Stick Houses
You can hang these on a door, on the tree or wherever else you need a dose of good cheer. Bonus: Made from craft sticks, beads and other common art supplies, they're less of a crummy mess than a real gingerbread house.
Get the tutorial at Studio DIY »
Maritza Lisa
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DIY Scooter Ornament
This may look professionally done, but there's a secret — it's made with temporary tattoos! Visit the tutorial to find the tattoo printable, or use the method with any temporary tattoo design of your choosing.
Get the tutorial at Maritza Lisa »
Craft Project Ideas
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Clothespin Characters
Not only are these elves and penguins cuties, they can help hold up the holiday cards you get sent in the mail! If you click through to the tutorial, you can see how to make a gingerbread character, too.
Get the tutorial at Craft Project Ideas »
See Vanessa Craft
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Cinnamon Stick Christmas Tree
This is a craft that looks and smells great! Kids might need help using a hot glue gun to stick the button on top, but they can certainly handle tying the green ribbons on the cinnamon stick.
Get the tutorial at See Vanessa Craft »
Nest of Posies
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Upcycled Ornaments
What gives these ornaments their perfectly round shape? They're re-used lids from Country Crock containers! They look festive and save an item from going in the recycling bin.
Get the tutorial at Nest of Posies »
White House Crafts
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3D Paper Snowman Ornaments
Bowdabra
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Holiday Door Hanger
You know what they say about the holidays and bells ringing, right? With this festive doorknob display, made mostly from dollar-store items, you can hear bells every time you enter the front door.
Get the tutorial at Bowdabra »
Messy Little Monster
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Craft Project Ideas
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Santa in a Chimney
That chimney? It's a painted flower pot. If you have one of those lying around, plus a styrofoam ball and some fuzzy craft sticks, you can make this hilarious craft, too.
Get the tutorial at Craft Project ideas »
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Alesandra DubinContributing WriterAlesandra is a digital travel and lifestyle journalist based in Los Angeles whose work has appeared in Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, Prevention, Insider, Glamour, Shondaland, AFAR, Parents, TODAY and countless other online and print outlets.
Larry StansburyContributing WriterLarry Stansbury is a writer whose work has appeared in POPSUGAR, Sports Illustrated, Her Campus, Distractify and more.
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